Cable wire connector and method of making rapid cable connections

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for connecting cable wires to cutting/clamping contacts of dropwire connector banks of telecommunication sytems by means of a press-in tool provided with guide and press-in pieces and an actuating face. In order to allow a connection of a dropwire cable wire that thick insulation jacket in one single operation step to a cutting/clamping contact of the dropwire connector bank, the actuating face of the press-in tool is formed as an application body immediately adjacent to the guide and press-in pieces for a striking or lever tool, in particular a screwdriver. By exerting a striking or lever force on the press-in tool, a dropwire cable wire can, thus, be connected in one single operation step to a cutting/clamping contact of a dropwire connector bank. In a further embodiment of the invention, the press-in tool is formed as a part of the closing plug and serves for the fixation of the thin cable wires in dropwire connector banks.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A device for connecting dropwise cables, comprising: a dropwise connector bank body defining a plurality of insertion slot chambers;   a plurality of cutting/clamping contacts, each of said plurality of cutting/clamping contacts being positioned within one of said plurality of insertion slot chambers;   a press-in tool including an application body, a press-in piece extending downwardly from said application body, said press-in piece being adapted to urge a dropwire cable into said cutting/clamping contact as said press-in tool is inserted into one of said plurality of insertion slot chambers;   a wall portion having a support edge, said wall portion being connected to said dropwire connector bank body;   and guide groove means connected to said press-in tool application body, said guide groove means for guidingly receiving a lever tool and for positioning the lever tool relative to said support edge to bear the lever tool against the support edge to facilitate pressing the press-in tool application body and to press the press-in piece into one of said plurality of insertion slots.   
     
     
       2. A device according to claim 1 wherein said press-in tool has through-hole extending translongitudinally therethrough in a cord extending through said hole. 
     
     
       3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said press-in tool is made of an impact resistant plastic. 
     
     
       4. A device according to claim 1, wherein said dropwire connector bank body includes a plurality of planar wall portion, each planar wall portion being positioned on one of two sides of an opening for a dropwire cable of one of said insertion slot chambers, each press-in tool including a second guide portion extending downwardly from said application body said second guide portion being adapted to engage at least one of said planar wall portions to cooperate with said guide portion to guide said press-in tool as said press-in piece is inserted into one of said insertion slot chambers. 
     
     
       5. A device for connecting dropwise cables, comprising: a dropwise connector bank body defining a plurality of insertion slot chambers and defining a plurality of guide slot portions, each guide slot portion being positioned adjacent one of said plurality of insertion slot chambers;   a plurality of cutting/clamping contacts, each of said plurality of cutting/clamping contacts being positioned within one of said plurality of insertion slot chambers;   a press-in tool including an application body, a press-in piece extending downwardly from said application body, said press-in piece being adapted to urge a dropwire cable into said cutting/clamping contact as said press-in tool is inserted into one of said plurality of insertion slot chambers, and a guide portion extending downwardly from said application body, said guide portion being adapted to engage one of said plurality of guide slot portions;   a wall portion having a support edge, said wall portion being connected to said dropwire connector bank body;   and guide groove means connected to said press-in tool application body, said guide groove means for guidingly receiving a lever member and for positioning the lever member relative to said support edge for bearing the lever member against the support edge to press the press-in tool application body downwardly and press the press-in piece into one of said plurality of insertion slots.   
     
     
       6. A device according to claim 5, wherein: said press-in tool includes handle grooves positioned on sides of said application body to facilitate removing said press-in piece from one of said insertion slot chambers. 
     
     
       7. The method for inserting a dropwire cable in a connector assembly including a dropwire connector bank body defining a plurality of insertion slot chambers, and defining a plurality of guide slot portions, each guide slot portion being positioned adjacent one of the plurality of insertion slot chambers, a plurality of cutting/clamping contacts, each of the plurality of cutting/clamping contacts being positioned within one of the plurality of insertion slot chambers, a press-in tool including an application body, a press-in piece extending downwardly from the application body and a guide portion extending downwardly from the application body, a wall portion having a support edge, the wall portion being connected to the dropwire connection bank body and a guide groove connected to the press-in tool application body, the method comprising the steps of: aligning the press-in piece of the press-in tool with one of the insertion slot chambers and simultaneously aligning the guide portion with one of the guide slot portions corresponding to the aligned said one of the insertion slot chambers; positioning a dropwire cable above one of said insertion slot chambers; positioning a lever member in contact with the support edge of said wall member and the guide groove associated with the press-in tool; pressing the press-in tool while simultaneously bearing on the support edge using the support edge as the focrom of a lever to urge the press-in tool press-in piece into the insertion slot chamber to urge the drop-wire cable into a corresponding one of the cutting/clamping contacts.